Shock absorbing structure



o. s. KERSTNER Er L 2,904,207 SHOCK ABSORBING STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 27, 1956 Sept. 15, 1959 INVENTOR5-'- 0/119 .5. A ers/ner' [ea/14rd 6T flsald/a 2,904,207. c P tented S P SiBS? d St e Patent I 2,904,207 SHOCK ABSORBING STRUCTURE Otto S. Kerstner, Culver City, and Leonard C. Oswald, Inglewood, Calif., assignors to Northrop Corporation, Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 27, 1956, Serial No. 624,557 I 4 Claims. (Cl. 217-523) and many articles of similar nature must not be subjected to deceleration shock exceeding a predetermined maximum value, during shipping operations and storage periods thereof, if they are to remain operational. Damage in transit to a shipment of missiles or the like would be serious and might prove to be disastrous in a time of national emergency.

Briefly, the present invention discloses a structure including an inner cylindrical, container spaced and suspended with-respect to an outer container-generally of rectangular configuration. The suspension means for the inner container includes a pair of pneumatic, automobile tires which are mounted by novel means in a manner to efiectively'arrest and maintain impact shocks below predetermined maximum 'values.

Accordingly an object of the present invention is to provide an impact absorbing structure in which deceleration forces resulting from the dropping or similar mishandling of the structure are maintained below a predetermined maximum value. I

Another object is to provide an impact absorbing structure having a suspension system utilizing conventional automobile tires to absorb vertical, lateral, and longitudinal impacts. 7

Another object is to provide an impact absorbing structure which is simple in design yet rugged in construction, which is economical to manufacture, and which is easily modified to receive articles of different configuration.

Although the characteristic features of the present invention are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, the invention itself, also the manner in which it may be carried out, will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection. with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are plan and side elevational views respectively of the impact absorbing structure as dis closed herein.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2 as viewed along the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to Figure 2 but showing a different type of suspension means.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 4 as viewed along the line 5-5 thereof.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the manner in which the suspension means employed in the structures of Figures 1 and 4 is mounted.

Referring nowto the drawings and particularly Figures 1 and 2 it 'will be seen that the principal components of the impact absorbing structure 11 consists of an outer assembly '12 and an inner container assembly 14.- The inner'container assembly 14 is suspended in spaced relation within the assembly 12by means of a pair 0 pneumatic suspension assemblies 16.

In the embodiment shown the outer assembly12 constitutes' an open type structure which is fabricated on the most'part from structural forms. The outer assembly includes longitudinally extending angular members 17, lateral members 18, brace member 19, and support asse1nblies- 21 adapted to receive and provide proper support for the suspension assemblies 16, the members 17, 18, and 19 are assembled substantially as shown inFigures 1 and 2 to provide a box-like structure having open walls. Although it is apparent that the assembly 12 may have solid walls such construction would add materially to the gross weight of the structure 11 and very little to its protective ability.

Normally the support assemblies 21 are located equal distances on each side'of the mid-point or C6. of the outer assembly 12 but this relationship is not necessarily the case. Each of the assemblies 21 is of identical construction, therefore, the description of one will also apply to the other. 'Each of the assemblies 21 includes a secured vto theangular members 17. As assembled the top and side members 23 and 24 present opposing flanges which are spaced apart a predetermined distance and which extend inwardly of the members 17 to bear against the side walls of the pneumatic assembly 16 when the latterv is inflated. Also in their assembled positions'the menrbers 23 and 24 present longitudinally extending flanges which abut each other to provide bearing surfaces for the outer periphery of the pneumatic assembly 16.

The base members 26 extend a suitable distance below the lowermost members 17 to provide support for the assembly 11 and to provide means whereby the assembly may be readily lifted by means of a fork truck or the like. Mounted between respective opposing channel members 26 is a support block 27. The inner surface of the block 27 is contoured to receive and contact the outerper'ipheryi of the pneumatic assembly 16 over a predetermined area and in the embodiment shown is in contact with the assembly 16 of approximately From the above it will be understood that the angle a may be less than, equal to, or greater than 90", also that the radius R of the block'27 may be equal to or greater than the outside radius of the assembly 16. Therefore, al though the angle a and radius R may vary considerably, the assembly 16 is in contact with the block 27 over a predetermined area for a particular installation and therefore provides a predetermined cushioning elfect for the container 28 and components stored therein. In the embodiment shown' the assembly 11, including the frame assemblies 21, is of welded construction, although it may be of bolted or riveted construction,

The inner container assembly 14 includes a cylindrical container 28 which may be fabricated of steel, aluminum, or of a fiberglass-aluminum material. The container 28 is shorter in length than the outer assembly 12. Extending longitudinally on and circumferentially spaced around the outer periphery of the container 28 and adjacent each end thereof is a plurality of bar members 29 fixedly secured to the container 28 as by welding, riveting or the like. With the container 28 mounted in the outer assembly 12 the bar'members each sidepithe assemblieslG. l s V Surrounding the container 28 and in contacting relation with the bar members 29 is a rim 31 on which a pneumatic iti're 32 lis mounted. i The tirefiZacnflstitfltes a conventional automobile :tire :andm's isuch; bar-lies ;a waive and valve :stem :combination 235, shown in :Figure :6, and provides; means :whereby the tire:may be=inflated and deflated. Longitudinal movement act :the :rim and stiret'is precluded by secondanyibar members. 33;whicl1;=are:bo1ted to the members 29 andwhichrareprovided with-tapered ends which;contact;the n'm as best seentinuFigurez fi.

. The assembled relation of containeri28 andqmew.

-9.9: e1rtend equal distances on What is claimed is:

. .1. Ashock absorbing stmcturelcomprising: ..an .outer matic assemblies 16 -with .thertire-fl inflatedristcharaeterp container assembly having top, bottom and side walls; a pair of support assemblies fixedly secured in said outer assembly in spaced relation with respect to each other; each of said support assemblies includes a plurality of rigid opposed flanges which extend zinwardly from the top and side walls ,of .said ,puter. assembly; individual support means which include a pair of rollers mounted for rotation adjacent .said {bottom wall and between ithe respective opposed'tflanges of;each of said supportassemblies; apair of shock: absorbing assemblies each including a pneumatic tiremounted-ona respective (rim; said shockabsorbing assemblies are mounted in said outer assembly at positions between the respective :opposed fianges of each of said support assemblies with a portion of the outer periphery of said tire in contact with said pair of rollers; an inner container assembly mounted within said rims and a fixedly secured theretog and valve stem means associated pair :of pivotedlollers 34. :The rollers 34;-are mounted on zpins .36 which have :their' ends bearing .in .the side flanges toflthezmembers 04 at the:lowen-endzportionstthereof. :The location .of :the rollers .-.is' further (characterized in that as theysupport theutire :32 \withaitsflowermost outer periphery "spaced :from the :surfaceaon which the channel members '26 rest. Aspositioned the .zrollersLB4 :notaonly provide supportzfor the assembly 16abuta1soitheyz allow the 1 tire :32 to function: as :a cushioning .or..-impact;absorbingideviceasrexplainedzbelow.

' .lIhe rollers :34 =arerspacedl apartzlaterally :a distance slightly lless than theonter diameter of :the tire 1 32. U pon downward vertical deceleration OffIhBIzSiI'IICHlEB :11 the =.tire Milli be (compressed :at; its ;contaet points with ithe roller. :34 and .aiportionflof the impact will; be absorbed by the compression of the tire. Also as the assembly l6zzimoves :in. a fdownwardlydirection: another =shoek absorbing featurezloccurs.v .As the tirei32: is compressed ad jacent t the :rollers :34 the stirerrolis aslightly; thereon:.a11owing theassemblies 16a,also the;containers28 :andzcomponents mounted therein, to move ithroughvsasgreater distance in :rabsorbing "a shock ofz given :magnitudes .fthan would "bBLPOSSlblG with conventional suspensionmeans.

A- 'lmissile another semi-fragile article iszcarried within the; container :28 and is secured therein by fixtures a (not shown). .A :missile mounted ,in wthecontainer :28, .which in tur-n is suspended in: thes mannerrshownrin: Figures 4 and I 5, :will tnot =normally the subjected :to shock aforces exceeding :certain predetermined t allowable ;maximum LG forces-although the outerrassembly mayzbe subjectedttzo onevervgreatershockforces. 1

While insordertto comply with thea'statuteythez-invention has been :described: in; language more or :less: specific as xto fstructural r features, it .is to be: understood :thatzthe invention is notzlimited to the :-specific :features shown, but that themeans iandconstruction hereintdisclosed comprise :a preferred form: ofi putting the invention intOfBfiCClZ, and the invention is therefore :claimed in any of its forms or modificationsww'thinithe' legitimateaandwalidzscope of the appended claims.

with each of:said tires-:whereby-said tiresmay be inflated or deflated as desired. V

2. A shock absorbing structure asset forth inclaim' l: further characterized 'in that -said pair of rollers are mounted f0r*rotati0n-in=the respective lower ends ofrsaid opposed flanges-which extend inwardly-from=the sidewalls of said=outer assembly and'the distance between the axes of 21 respective pair of rollers is substantially .equal'to butless l than the diameter or one of said tires.

3. A shock absorbing structure comprising: an outer elongated container assembly having top, bottom and side walls; a pair of support assemblies fixedly secured in said outer assembly in spaced relation with=respect'to-each other; each of said support assemblies includes a plurality of rigid -opposed flanges which extend normal toaand inwardly from the top and side walls of said outer l assembly; individual support means which include a pair of rollers mounted =forrotation adjacent "said {bottom wall and-between therespective opposed 'fianges'of eachof said support assemblies; 1 a pair of shock absorbing assemblies each ofwhi'ch includes a 'pneumatic tire' =mounted on a respective rim; said shock absorbing assemblies are mounted in said outer assembly: attpositions Ibetween" the respective 1 opposed fianges' of each I of 'said a support assemblies witha portion of the outer periphery o'f-said'tire in contactwith saidpair of rollers; an inner container assembly mounted within said rims and =fixedly secured thereto; and each and tire combination includes valve stem means whereby said tire may bet inflated or deflated asJdesired.

4. A shock absorbing structure as set forth'inclaim' iiz further characterize'd in that said pair ref rollers are mounted forarotation in' the respective lower ends: of said opposed flanges which extend inwardly from the side walls of said outer-assembly and the distance between the axes of a respective pair of rollers is substantially-equal to but less than-'t-he outside diameter of one of=said tires.

iReferencesiCited in the file of: this patent "UNITED STATES PATENTS 

